Refrigerated display case trayholding means



Nov. 24, 1942. w. c. WALDO 2,303,093

' REFRIOERATED DISPLAY CASE TRAY-HOLDING MEANS Filed Aug. 20, 1941} Wz'ZZz's CT. Waldo Patented Nov. 24, 1942 OFFICE I REFBIGEBATED DISPLAY CASE TRAY- HOLDING MEAN Willis Clarence Waldo, Windsor, Vt, 1 Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,661;

1 Claims. (01. 211-153) y invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for holding m'eat trays in place in refrigerator 'displaycabinets and it particularly has for its objects to provide a flxture which will hold the trays in one row from f becoming displaced. into another row;' to provide a simple, inexpensive article for insertion between rows of trays by virtue of which trays from one row above those in another row will not ride over the trays in a lower row or will My invention consists in; the "provision of elongated row-separator strips 8 and bottom row support-strip 8', designed to rest on the rack 2.

The row-supporting strip 8' rests against an abutment 3 on the rack 2, while the separatorstrips I 8 are. located between adjacent rows of trays 6.

not slide down out of their respective row; to

provide simple, inexpensive tray-row-separating and tray-supporting strips of pleasing appearance which may be set on present day wire racks without the necessity of attaching the same to the rack, and which may be made in convenient lengths of sheet metal, bent or rolled to the desired cross-sectional form and size; to provide means for holding the trays in one row against becoming displacedinto a space in another row when a tray is removed from that other row, thereby saving time and labor which would otherwise be required to rearrange the trays.

Other objects of the invention will be obviousin part and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of a tray rack and trays with my invention in use, a portion of the display case being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the rack with my invention applied, several trays in each row being shown.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the separator strips.

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view of a portion of the row supporting strip.

In the drawing, in which like numbers of reference indicate like parts in both the fi ures, l is a display case in which the usual inclined wire rack is located on suitable supports. The rack 2 may be made in one unit or in several units, and each includes the cross-supporting wires 4, the front to back wires 2, and the front end stops 3, all of the ordinary construction. The trays 6 rest with their bottoms on the rack 2 in two or more rows and the rack is usually inclined, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each separator strip 8 has a flat top and stepped sides, on the narrow steps 9 of which the flanges I of the trays rest. The wider steps II) have their edges arranged to engage the front and back inclined walls of the trays of adjacent rows (see- Fig. 1). This leaves air circulating spaces H and I2 below the tray flanges I and about the trays.

The flrst tray row supporting strip 8' has a flat top face, one straight side l3, and one stepped side 9, 10'. Preferably it is one-half the over-all width of strip 8 and is of the same form on the stepped side, in cross section, as one-half of strip 8.

If desired,'a second strip 8" may be'placed along the back row of trays (see Fig. 1).

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, if a tray is removed from any row, no tray from a row above will slide into the vacated space and so long as two trays are left in a row they will hold the separator strip 8, which in turn will hold back the trays in the next row above.

Preferably, the top or exposed face of the strips 8, 8', 8 are flush with the tops of the tray flanges l and the tray flanges, although they may be curved under, will not ride over the strips owing to the engagement of steps 10 with the trays, as well as the fact that the tray rims abut the side wall at right angles.

In practice, the strips 8, 8', 8" are preferably formed from sheet metal, such as Monel metal, enameled steel, aluminum, chrome-plated steel, etc.,.etc., and the tops of the strips are preterab'ly flush with the tops of the trays or, if desired, they may be slightly convexed. If desired, v

' v the strips may be made of solid bar material.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very simple, inexpensive article that will prevent sliding of the trays and their riding over one another when displayed on a slant, and it will be further seen that my invention provides a maximum of convenience at a minimum effort in order to remove one or more trays from the the trays. Further, the invention may be used in a two-tray-deep case as well as in a threeor-more-tray-deep case.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that the construction, uses and advan- I ported by trays in the adjacent row below.

2. In display cabinets, an inclined ioraminous rack having an abutment at its lower edge, at least two rows of trays resting on said rack, a tray-supporting strip resting loosely on said rack along said lower edge, against which the first row of trays abuts, and a tray-row-separating strip resting loosely on said rack between the first and second rows of trays and supported by trays in said first row.

3. In display cabinets, an inclined ioraminous rack having an abutment at its lower edge, at least two rows of trays resting on said rack, a tray-supporting strip resting loosely on said rack along said lower edge, against which the first row of trays abuts, and a tray-,row-separating strip resting loosely on said rack between the first and second rows of trays, said strips extending approximately the full width oi the rack from side to side, said tray row separating strip being supported by trays in the adjacent lower row of trays.

4. The combination with a display rack of the character stated for receiving and supporting two or more rows of trays, a tray-separating strip extending between the rows of trays and resting on the rack, said strip comprising a top and two-stepped sides, the upper step being of a depth corresponding approximately to the depth of the tray fiange and the lower step being of a depth corresponding approximately to the depth of the tray below the fiange,

5. In display cabinets, an inclined ioraminous rack having an abutment at its lower edge, at least two rows of trays resting on said rack, a tray-supporting strip on said rack along said lower edge, against which the first row of trays abuts, and a tray-row-separating strip between the first and second rows of trays, said traysupporting strip having a top, one straight side and one stepped side for purposes described.

6. In display cabinets, an inclined ioraminous rack having an abutment at its lower edge, at least two rows of trays resting on said rack, a tray-supporting strip on said rack along said lower edge, against which the first row of trays abuts, and a tray-row-separating strip between the first and second rows of trays, said strips having their sides which are adjacent the trays stepped for purposes described.

7. In display'cabinets, an inclined ioraminous 'rack having an abutment at its lower edge, at

least two rows of trays resting on said rack, a tray-supporting strip on said rack along said lower edge, against which the first row of trays abuts, and a tray-row-separating strip between the first and second rows of trays, said strips having their sides which are adjacent the trays stepped to receive tray flanges and having other step-portions to engage the trays below the flanges and leave air circulating passages between the strip and the trays.

WILLIS CLARENCE WALDO. 

